What areroot words, prefixes, and suffixes ? A prefix is a word part with a specific meaning at the beginning of a word. A suffix is a word part with a specific meaning at the end of a word. A root word is the main part of a word that contains its core meaning. Sometimes it is a word on its own, as in unbelievable (believe is the root word), and sometimes it cannot stand alone, as in relocation (loc is the root word). In either case, prefixes and suffixes can be added to root words, which might change either the meaning of the word (reactivate, deactivate) or its grammatical function (transports = present tense, transported = past tense, transportation = noun). Sometimes spelling changes when suffixes are added to root words (noise, noisy). Learning root words, prefixes, and suffixes can help you because:
A prefix is a word part with a specific meaning at the beginning of a word.
A suffix is a word part with a specific meaning at the end of a word.
A root word is the main part of a word that contains its core meaning. Sometimes it is a word on its own, as in unbelievable (believe is the root word), and sometimes it cannot stand alone, as in relocation (loc is the root word). In either case, prefixes and suffixes can be added to root words, which might change either the meaning of the word (reactivate, deactivate) or its grammatical function (transports = present tense, transported = past tense, transportation = noun). Sometimes spelling changes when suffixes are added to root words (noise, noisy).
Learning root words, prefixes, and suffixes can help you because:
• If you recognize these word parts, it is easier to figure out what a word you don’t know means.
• They can help you to spell words because you’ll remember patterns.(Retrieved from original source http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1042/study_sheet.pdf on September 29, 2010)